CRPF jawans were well-trained, equipped: MHA

The Union Home Ministry on Friday rejected reports that the CRPF jawans ambushed and killed by Naxals in Dantewada region of Chhattisgarh were ill-trained and ill-equipped.

In a statement, the ministry said reports that the 'A', 'C' and 'G' companies of the CRPF's 62nd battalion, which undertook operations out of the base camp at Chintalnar in Dantewada, had not undergone training were incorrect and baseless.

The statement said that the 'A' company (45 personnel) underwent pre-induction training last year and anti-Naxal training between February and March this year. Both the 'C' (12 personnel) and 'G' (15 personnel) companies underwent pre-induction in 2009.

The ministry said pre-induction training was given with specific reference to the area in which the jawans were to be inducted.

The ministry said all the three companies were well-equipped and lost 75 arms in the ambush:

The ministry also claimed that the CRPF had extensive training capacity, with CIAT schools in Silchar and Shivpuri training 1,829 and 750 personnel respectively every year. Four adhoc training schools were being set up, of which one would be for the CRPF. Twenty CIAT schools with the annual training capacity of 18,000 personnel were being set up in five states with the ministry's help, the statement said.

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